Driver's License

Depending on the country or territory where your driver’s license has been issued, different rules apply as to whether you will need to exchange your foreign license for a Danish license.

The below procedures should provide you with the easiest method of license exchange.

Please be aware that you will be charged a fee when you acquire a health certificate at your doctor (prices can vary) and when you exchange your license at the Citizen Service Centre (280 DKK).

EU/EEA/EØS & Faroe Islands

If you have a license issue by an EU/EEA/EØS country or by Faroe Islands with maximum 15 years of durability from date of issue to the date of expire, it is optional to exchange your driver’s license for a Danish equivalent. To exchange your license, visit a Citizen Service Centre.

Step 1
Book an appointment to visit the Citizen Service to exchange your driver’s license. Appointments with the Citizen Service can be booked online here: www.esbjergkommune.dk or at +45 7616 1616. In Esbjerg you will find the Citizen Service Centre at City Hall, Torvegade 74, 6700 Esbjerg.

Please bring this to the Citizen Service, if you wish to exchange your drivers license:

Original drivers license (you may be asked for a certified translation if it is not in English)

If your driving license was issued by one of the above listed countries or territories, you will only be required to obtain a certificate of health and fill out a form, for a car license (for other licenses you need to follow the process for Non EU citizens).

After 1 year, starting from the day you establish normal residence in Denmark, you should exchange your foreign driving license for a Danish driving license, if you still wish to drive in Denmark.
You will receive a temporary license valid in the Nordic countries for 3 months, which you can use while the police verify your original license. If the validation takes longer than 3 months, remember to renew the temporary license at the Citizen service, which is free of Charge.

In addition to the temporary license you can buy a temporary replacement-license for use world wide for 170 DKK. The temporary replacement-license are valid for 3 months only. Remember to bring a passport photo and expect a delivery process of 2 weeks.

Step 1
Acquire a certificate of health from your doctor.
Remember to bring the following with you to your doctor’s visit:

Passport photo

Your health insurance card

Step 2
Book an appointment ahead to visit the Citizen Service Centre to exchange your driver’s license. Appointments with the Citizen Service Centre can be booked online here: www.esbjergkommune.dk or by +45 7616 1616. The Citizen Service Centre in Esbjerg is found at City Hall, Torvegade 74, 6700 Esbjerg.

Submit the certificate of health at a Citizen Service Centre, where you will be asked to complete a license form. The Citizen Service will issue you a temporary license to use during the process free of charge.

Remember to bring the following with you to the Citizen Service Centre:

The certificate of health issued by your doctor

Passport

Original driver’s license (you might be asked to submit an official translation if it is not in English, Danish or French)

Residence permit

Your new Danish driving license will be sent to your home address.

If you do not receive your new driver’s license within 3 months, you can call the police to ask about the status of their verification of your original license at tel. 9610 1449 (Press 2). In that case also remember to renew your temporary license at the Citizen Service.

All other non-EU citizens

If your driving license was issued by a non-EU country or territory other than those listed above, you will be required to pass both theory and driving tests before being issued a Danish driver’s license.

You should apply to exchange your foreign license within 90 days after relocating to Denmark, if you still wish to drive in Denmark. You will receive a temporary license, which you can use in the Nordic countries while the police verify your original license. The temporary license will be valid for 3 month, and you will have to renew the temporary license after 3 months, if the validation process is not yet completed. You will be notified by your driving school when your foreign license has been verified, so that you can continue with completion of the theory and driving tests.

Step 1
Acquire a certificate of health from your doctor.
Remember to bring the following with you to your doctor’s visit:

Passport photo

Your health insurance card

Step 2
Book an appointment ahead to visit the Citizen Service Centre to exchange your driver’s license. Appointments with the Citizen Service Centre can be booked online here: www.esbjergkommune.dk or by +45 7616 1616. The Citizen Service Centre in Esbjerg is located at City Hall, Torvegade 74, 6700 Esbjerg.
At the Citizen Service Centre, you will be asked to complete a form and submit your certificate of health. The Citizen Service willissue a temporary license to use during the process free of Charge.

Remember to bring the following with you to the Citizen Service Centre:

Original drivers license (you may be asked for a official translation if it is not in English)

Residence permit

Step 3
Contact a Driving School. You will be required to pass theory and driving tests at the driving school. The Citizen Service will be notified when you have passed the tests and your new Danish driving license will be sent to your home address within one month.

If your license are not validated within 3 months you can call the police to ask about the status of their verification of your original license at +4596101449 (Press 2). In that case also remember to renew your temporary license at the Citizen Service.

If you do not receive your new driver’s license within one month after passing the driving test, you can visit the Citizen Service to ask about the status of having issued the license.

Temporary licenses

There are two types of temporary licenses.

The regular temporary license are issued at the Citizen Service free of Charge, when you hand in your original drivers license applying for an exchange of the license. The temporary license is valid for 3 months for driving in the Nordic Countries. The temporary license can be renewed at the Citizen Service, if the police have not verified your original license within the first 3 months.

A Temporary replacement-license can be purchased if you need to drive outside the Nordic countries, whilst holding the a temporary license. The Temporary replacement-license can be used world wide and will be valid also for 3 months, after which it need to be purchased once again. The costs for the Temporary replacement-license is 170 DKK. You can order the replacement license at the Citizen Service and the delivery period will be approx. 2 weeks. Remember to bring a passport photo, your temporary license and the 170 DKK fee.

International driver's license

A Danish Drivers License is valid in all EU countries. In case you will be travelling to a non EU country, you can order an International Drivers license at the Citizen Service for 25 DKK. The international Drivers licenses are usually valid for a period of one year. Remember to bring:

A passport photo

Your Danish Drivers license

25 DKK

Re-exchanging driver's license

For Non EU Citizens the police will keep your original drivers license whilst you are issued with an equivalent. If you at some point wish for your original drivers license to be returned ( for example if leaving Denmark), you must hand in your Danish drivers license at the Citizen Service. If you chose to have your original drivers license returned, you will need to re-start the process of having a Danish equivalent, if you later on wish for a such.

For EU Citizens your original drivers license will be returned to your home country, when you are issued with a Danish equivalent. If you at some point wish for your original drivers license to be returned, you must request for this in your home county (or the country that issued the license).

Loosing your driver's license

If you loose your Danish driver's license you can apply for a new one at the citizen service centre in person.

If you have questions or need more information, contact your nearby Citizen Service Centre or visit the website of the Danish Police.